Strong Start! : Bollywood News

Akshay Kumar films have a strong market in U.K. and BHAGAM BHAG reiterates the fact yet again. Priyadarshan’s latest comic caper has fetched an impressive start in the territory, nearing £ 200,000 mark in its first five days.

Meanwhile, BAABUL continues to do exceptional business in U.K. and U.S.A. In U.K., the film has crossed BAGHBAN [£ 748,028] and at the rate it’s faring, it should cross RANG DE BASANTI [£ 825,198] and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI [£ 823,868] in the next few days. In the U.S., BAABUL is nearing the $ 1 million mark, which is fantastic.

U.K. BOX-OFFICE

Note:- Since it was a long weekend [Christmas holidays], the U.K. box-office collections mentioned below are of five days [December 22 – 26, 2006], instead of the normal three days. The U.K. totals are, therefore, till Tuesday [26th Dec.].

BHAGAM BHAG has debuted at No. 7 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 197,180 [approx. Rs. 1.71 crores] on 45 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 4,382.

BAABUL [last weekend: No. 11, this weekend: No. 11]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 97,790 on 28 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 3,493. Total: £ 791,841 [approx. Rs. 6.88 crores].

DHOOM 2 [last weekend: No. 18, this weekend: No. 21]: In its fifth weekend, the film has collected £ 19,047 on 8 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 2,381. Total: £ 1,150,288 [approx. Rs. 9.99 crores].

KABUL EXPRESS [last weekend: No. 14, this weekend: No. 22]: In its second weekend, the film has collected £ 16,412 on 10 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,641. Total: £ 95,770 [approx. Rs. 83.15 lacs].

THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.

[Based on screen averages]

RANK	FILM	AVERAGE
1	BHAGAM BHAG	£ 4,382
2	BAABUL	£ 3,493
3	DHOOM 2	£ 2,381
4	KABUL EXPRESS	£ 1,641

U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE

[4-day weekend: Weekend: December 22 – 25, 2006]

KABUL EXPRESS: In its second weekend, the film has collected $ 49,503 on 27 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 1,833. Total: $ 224,950 [approx. Rs. 99.83 lacs].

DHOOM 2: In its fifth weekend, the film has collected $ 38,269 on 16 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 2,392. Total: $ 2,543,272 [approx. Rs. 11.29 crores].